If Kuwait wants to be the next Dubai, it still has a long way to go

Telegraph

4 days ago

For decades, Kuwait has stood in the shadow of its flashier Gulf neighbours. While Dubai dazzled the world with futuristic skylines and shopping malls the size of cities, and Qatar grabbed headlines with its glitzy World Cup, Kuwait kept largely to itself. No glossy tourist board campaigns. No bid for Expo. No island resorts rising from the sea. But that may be changing.
Kuwait, a nation of pearl-diving heritage and oil-fuelled prosperity, is quietly angling to become the Gulf's next luxury travel hotspot. Not in the shouty, gold-plated way of Dubai, but in a more low-key, culturally rooted, design-conscious fashion.
New hotels are opening, Kuwaiti entrepreneurs are investing in home-grown hospitality ventures, and the country's creative class is shaping something distinctive.
But can it work? And more importantly, will anyone come?
A country with money, taste… and rules
On paper, Kuwait has all the raw materials for upscale tourism: money, safety, a dramatic desert-meets-sea landscape, a thriving dining scene, and one of the most fashion-forward populations in the Gulf. Kuwaitis are well-travelled, multilingual, and spend freely.
They appreciate design, cuisine, and culture. Yet there's a fundamental paradox at the heart of Kuwait's tourism ambitions: it wants to attract the outside world, without compromising its inward values.
Unlike Dubai or Doha, Kuwait is dry; there is no alcohol, and very little nightlife in the Western sense. Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and dress codes in public spaces are expected to be modest. There have been criticisms of the country's restrictions on freedom of expression, and poor treatment of migrant workers.
Tourist visas are available, but bureaucracy can be slow and frustrating. Add to this a chronic underinvestment in tourism infrastructure – until fairly recently, there were barely a handful of internationally branded hotels – and you start to see the scale of the challenge.
A new scene, quietly unfolding
The 'real Kuwait' is best experienced through its blossoming dining and lifestyle scene, much of it created by locals for locals but now ready to welcome curious visitors. There's VOL.1, a sleek industrial coffee shop where baristas hand-pour single-origin Ethiopian beans beneath raw concrete ceilings.
And then there's Dar Hamad, a fine-dining restaurant serving elevated takes on traditional Kuwaiti cuisine: grilled zubaidi fish, saffron-scented machboos, date syrup desserts, within a beautifully restored mid-century villa.
Midar Restaurant brings traditional Kuwaiti cuisine into focus, specialising in freshly caught seafood sourced directly from local fishermen. Its menu is inspired by both Kuwait's desert heritage and urban vibrancy, giving diners an authentic taste of place in an elegant setting.
For a touch of Lebanese glamour, Babel is a must. The restaurant is as much about the interiors – grand arches, warm lighting, intricate stonework – as it is about the food.
Known for its artfully presented mezze and grilled dishes, it's often chosen for special occasions, offering a sophisticated, regional dining experience.
French fine dining has its place in Kuwait too. Lenôtre, a long-standing name in the city's restaurant scene, has been given a fresh lease of life with a redesigned, seasonal menu. While savoury dishes shine, it's the desserts (especially the caramel soufflé) that keep locals and visitors coming back.
And for those missing a taste of the West, Smoke Me BBQ delivers American-style smoked meats with authenticity. Brisket, ribs, and pulled pork (beef-based, in keeping with local customs) are smoked low and slow, drawing in expats and Western travellers alike who crave bold, familiar flavours.
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Beyond dining, there's a cultural undercurrent worth exploring. Contemporary art galleries such as CAP Kuwait host regional exhibitions, while the Yarmouk Cultural Centre stages everything from photography retrospectives to classical music performances.
Along the waterfront, there's growing talk of reimagining the country's 500km coastline for luxury resorts, and restoring historic Failaka Island as a boutique wellness destination.
Who is Kuwait for?
Kuwait has long been a stop for business travellers, oil consultants, and the occasional diplomat. But for sun-seeking Europeans, it's never been a contender.
The lack of alcohol alone is a dealbreaker for many package holidaymakers. And yet – as the raft of Saudi-owned alcohol-free resorts popping up on the Red Sea coast prove – that might not matter.
The country isn't aiming to become the next Ibiza. It's not even aiming to become the next Doha.
Instead, Kuwait's tourism ambitions appear to be quietly calibrated toward two groups: the affluent, well-travelled Arab diaspora seeking authenticity over artifice; and a new generation of experience-led travellers more interested in design, food, and culture than cocktails by the pool.
It helps that Kuwait is becoming easier to access. Its international airport, once an ordeal, has been modernised. Direct flights operate from London with Kuwait Airways and British Airways. Visas are now available online for most Western nationalities.
The catch
Still, challenges remain. Compared to the polished, PR-driven offerings of Saudi or the UAE, Kuwait's brand is opaque. Tourism is not yet a government priority in the way it is elsewhere. There is no central campaign, no English-language portal enticing travellers to visit. And while Kuwaitis are famously hospitable, there remains a wariness about opening the country up too fast or too broadly.
The biggest hurdle might not be infrastructure or alcohol, it might be narrative.
In a world saturated by viral travel content and Instagrammable moments, Kuwait's understated charm is a harder sell. It requires curiosity, patience, and respect for cultural nuance. It is not a destination for everyone. But for those who want something different, and more real, that might be precisely the point.
Essentials
Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya (rooms from £380 per night) is the city's most luxurious address, offering sleek rooms, a rooftop pool, a full-service spa, and five high-end dining venues.
Millennium Hotel & Convention Centre Kuwait (rooms from £140 per night) is a five-star option located in the Salmiya district, with 295 rooms and suites, a health club, outdoor pool, spa, and multiple restaurants.
Popular with both business and leisure travellers for its proximity to the city's retail and cultural attractions. Kuwait Airways and British Airways operate direct flights from London Heathrow to Kuwait City, with fares from £390 return.